Moniaive windfarm granted two year extension

A WINDFARM near Moniaive is expected to go ahead within the next two and a half years after an energy firm secured a deadline extension.

Troston Loch Windfarm had already been granted consent for 14 turbines up to 150m in blade tip height.

The development was due to begin no later than December 18 this year. However, Vantage RE, the energy firm behind the project, was forced to seek a two-year extension due to “uncertainty about the grid connection”.

Councillors on the planning committee last week heard that 2028 should be enough time to allow that to be resolved, and for them to get going.

Chief planning officer David Suttie said: “This is simultaneously a straightforward, yet quite complicated application to get your head around.”

Meanwhile, council papers had revealed that air traffic safety experts consider the development poses an unacceptable risk to flight radar operations, and national air traffic safety organisation, NATS Safeguarding, have objected to it.

However, this was not discussed by councillors at last week’s meeting.